Loose-leaf binder



1,634 125 June 28 1927' CJD. 'rRlJssr-:LLv

LOGSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed Jan. 31, 1919 g 551g Mb @Hoz/M9134,

Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.l

CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL, F POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F P0UGI-IKEEESIIE,y NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOOSE-'LEAF BINDER.

Original application filed January $1, l1919, Serial cember 13, 1920.

This invention relates to loose-leaf books, or tei'nporary binders designed for binding together loose leaves in book form. It relates particularly to so-called ring binders, wherein half rings or hooks are adapted to close together to constitute binding meansand to open out to permit the removal of the perforated sheets or leaves. A

The invention provides an improved construction of the book cover whereby the sides fare hinged to the back, instead of making the book-back and sides integrally of one piece of leatheror other material.' Hereto- ,fore certain types of binders, other than loose-leaf books, have had their sides hinged to the back, but in such cases the back has been the binding mechanism. In a true loose-leaf book the binding mechanism is ldistinct from the cover and is fastened to the book-back. The present invention is directed to books of this type. Its essential features will be made clear with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the binder laid open. l

Fig. 2 is av transverse section through the back and adjacent portions of the sides showing the binding rings or hooks open.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the back 'and the adjoining portions of the sides of the binder, the view being on a lar er scale than the usual dimensions of such inders;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the sides of the binder.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of' a hinge member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back showing a modified hinge construction;

Fior. 7 isa transverse section of the bat-,k showing a further modification.

In the figures, A designates the book cover as a whole, of which B is the back and C C are the sides; to the back is to be attached any suitable construction of loose leaf bind- -ing mechanisim which may be of the ordinary split ring or hook type. This mechanism is shown in Figs. l and 2, where l1) E are' the hooks or half rings, F F are its hook plates carrying them, and G is the back plate against which the hook plates have a rocking connection in any usual manner so that the hooks may be opened or closed and be he1d resiliently in either position by any No. 274,337. Divided and this application filed De- Serial No. 430,581.

of the numerous means now well known in this art. His the usual binding plate attached to the book back, which affords a means for attaching the binding mechanism to the book cover, being commonly provided with upturned lugs at the ends, as shown at I, which are turned down to clamp the back plate of the binding mechanism in place. The plate H is shown as fastened to the back B by a binding layer M which is stitched to the back by. two rows of stitching a a, and its flaps turned inwardly and cemented down, as by means of an interposed layer N of gutta percha or other cementitious material. This, however, forms no part of the present invention.

In such loose-leaf books as heretofore constructed, the cover has been made substantially integral, its back and sides being united by a flexible portion to rovide for the bending movements of the si es in opention of the back and sides to form fiexible hinge portions; in other cases the back and sides have been made as in ordinary bound books, lwith stiffening layers covered by fabric, the fabric portion at the junction of the back and sides being flexible enough to give the necessary hinge action. In other typ-es of binders the sides have been hinged to a back portion, but in all such cases the back portion has not been a book-back, properly speaking, but has 'been primarily the binding means'for uniting the loose-leaves, or has been a part of such binding means. In such binders the sheets do not lie fiat when laid open, as in binders of the ring book type.

The present invention provides an improved construction of cover for binders of the ring book type. Instead of forming the backand sidesA integrally, or in a substantially integral manner, the back and sides being united by a flexible portion of leather or fabric, the sides are, according to the present invention. united to the z`back by means of mechanical hinges. The cover is wholly distinct from the binding mechanism, and thelatter is afterward united to the back portion of the cover in any suitable way. The integral type of cover is well suited to, and is commonly used for, the smaller sizes of temporary binders, and especially when leather is used as the material for the cover. As the size of the cover is increased` the integral construction becomes progressively less desirable, and, especially with the larger sizes, it is preferable to construct the cover of separate parts hinged together. The hinging together of the back and sides has the advantage that itaeconomizes in the cutting of the material. particularly in the case of leather, since the cover, instead of being formed of one large piece which must be especially selected in cutting a skin or hide, is made up of small pieces which otherwise would be waste or scrap. At times when leather is especially eXp-ensive, it is peculiarly advantageous for this reason to build up the cover of separate pieces. To do this it is desirable to hinge these pieces of relying upon flexible fabric to connect them. Such hinge construction isbest shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and the leather for the side or back is prepared for the hinge by cutting it in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The hinges are made of the construction shown in Fig. 5, a single strip of sheet metal being punched outl to form a hinge member O, being bent into channel or U-shape with opposite portions or leaves to embrace between them the edge portion of the cover material, and these leaves formed at their margins or edges with inwardly-projecting portions or prongs c 0, while the bent or bowed ortion d is notched out at intervals at e e to orm hinge eyes which interlock with the eye portions d ci on the mating memberv of the hinge, which ortions are made to alternate, and being mterloeked, a pintle or hinge pin P (Fig. 3) is inserted. The edges of the leaves are desirably bent inward at b b, forming edge fianges. The edge of the leather or other material forming the side or back is first cut in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the edge portion f being reduced in thickness, and grooves g g being formed, which grooves receive the inturned edge fianges b b on the hinge. In applying the hinge, its leaves are sprung apart enough so that its prongs may pass into the grooves g g, whereupon pressure is applied to cause these rongs to embed themselves in the leather rom alternately opposite sides, and since the prongs are slightly inturned, this pressure causes them to clinch inwardly, as shown in section in Fig. 3. The pressure brings the sheet metal of the hin e into planes coinciding with the opposite aces of the sides and back, the reduction in thickness of the edge portion f being preferably sufiicient to allow for the two thicknesses of metal, so that the metal and leather lie flush, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, or substantially fiush. The edges of the sides and together mechanically insteadl back are first grooved and have the hinge members applied to them as described, those applied to the back being adapted to interengage with those applied to the sides, whereupon the pins P P are p ut in and are'headed down at their ends to prevent their being displaced.

This construction makes a very neat hinge, adds nothing to the thickness of the cover, and enables the binding to be cheapened, especially for the larger sizes, while possessing a very neat and attractive finish. By means of this metal hinge construction I am enabled to reduce the waste in cutting. leather from upward of 30 per cent down to nearl or quite 10 per cent.

Modi cations of the hinge joint are shown -in Figs. 6 and 7. In these figures, one of the hinge members is formed integrally with the leather back B, the other hinge member being either of the construction heretofore described, or being similarly formed integrally with the leather side C of the book cover. The hinge is formed by reducing the leather to half its original thickness, and preferably accomplishing a further reduction where the eye for the hinge pin is formed, whereupon the flap of reduced thickness is turned back upon itself and fastened to the body portion in the manner shown, for example, in Fig. 6, Where the linel of stitches a is utilized for fastening down the hinge flap, as well as for the attachment of the strip M. The notches or gaps efor receiving the complementary eyes of the mating hinge member ma be cut in the leather either before 0r a ter the bending over of the iiap. After interfitting the respective hinge members, the pintle or hinge pin P is put through in the usual manner.

In the constructlon shownyin Fi 7 the leather ofthe back B is first re uced in thickness Vat its edges, being preferably tapered or skived down to a thin edge; 4Athe edge portion is then bent backen itself to form the hinge eyes, and is united preferably by a row of stitches a. The remaining flaps m m are left unattached until the insertion of the back plate I-I, whereupon these flaps are cemented down upon the marginal portions of the back plate, as shown, thus securing the backplate to the book back in a manner dispensing with the strip M previously described.

Throughout the specification I ,"'have treated the book back and sides as ,beino' formed of leather, but it will be understood that any analogous or leather-like material having properties more or less similar to those of leather and which will stand the operations necessary to eect the proper hinge connection, may be used instead of leather. While the use of a hinge pin P for connecting the hinge members is the customary and most obvious means, yet the in- I vent1on 1s not limited to anyl specific means for accomplishing' the interengagmg hinge connection. f

The loose-leaf book provided by the pres-- ent invention preserves the advantage of books of the ring type, that the leaves lieA iat when the book is open, so that they may be readily written upon. It enables vthe sides to be made of` thick, stili', and heavy material, when desired, and is advantageous for the larger and lheavier sizes of such books. It has the advantage over vbook covers of flexible material'or those in which the back and sides are united by flexible fabric hinge portions, that the construction is much stronger than is possible with' covers of that type, and enables a rigid book-back to be used, which affords a secure foundation to which to attach the ring binding members. .`It is to be noted that'the book-back is Wholly distinct from any portion of the binding members, the latter being separately made and afterward fastened securely to the book-back. Heretofore, where the sides of a binder have been hin ed, their hinge connection has been direct to the leaf-binding means instead of to a distinct book-back.

`Such construction has been found undesirable because, among other things, it involves that the leather or other covering material be carried over and glued tothe back plate of the binding devices, which, being made of metal, affords an unsuitable base to which to unite such covering material.

The invention may be modiied or varied in certain respects within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A loose-leaf book of the type comprising a cover and binding means carried by the back ofthe cover, said means having arcshaped ring-like devices for engaging holes in the leaves, so that when the book is opened the leaves may lie tlat against the cover sides, characterized in that the cover consists of a rigid back to which the binding means are attached, and separate sides of leather-like material hinged to the back by mechanical hinge connections which are located substantially within the thickness 'of the cover sides so as not to project therefrom. -4

2.sA loose-leaf book according to claim l, the hinge connections comprising interengaging hinge members, at least one of which is of metal with leaves embracing the edge portion of a cover member and having prongs enterin the material thereof.

3. A cover or a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides hinged together, the hinges comprising hinge members of bent sheet metal,

each such member having leaves embracing the edge portion of a cover member on opposits sides thereof, such cover member having such edge portion reduced in thickness to an extent substantially equalling the thickness of such sheet metal, whereby the outer face of the hinge member is substantially flush with the outer face of the cover member to which it is attached.

4. Ay coverfor a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides hinged together, the hinges comprising hinge members of bent sheet metal, such hinge members having leaves adapted to embrace the edge portion of the cover members and having inturned prongs, and the corresponding edge portions of the cover members being reduced in thicknes and receiving such prongs.

`5. A cover for a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides, and hinges uniting the sides to the back, one of the adjoining edges of the cover members beingformed with a groove, and the engaging hinge member having an inturned flange entering such groove and formed with spurs penetrating the material of the cover member.

6. A cover for'a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides, and hinges uniting them, the adjoining edges of such cover members being formed with opposite grooves, and interengaging hinge members having4 inturned ianges entering said grooves and formed with alternating spurs penetrating the material of the cover members.

7. A cover for a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides, and hing-es` uniting them, the adjoining edges ofthe cover members being reduced in thickness and formed with opposite grooves, and interengaging hinge members having inturned flanges entering said grooves and formed with alternating spurs penetrating the material` of the cover members.

8. A cover for a loose-leaf binder comprising cover members consisting of a back and sides, having interengaging hinge members whereby they are hinged together, the cover sides each formed of leather-like material,' the hinge members being substantially Within the thickness of the cover sides. v

9. A cover according to claim 8, at least one of the hinge members formed of sheet metal in channel form embracing an edge portion of a cover member, the latter reduced to admit the thickness of the metal, and the metal inturned at its edges to enter the material of the cover member.

10., A cover according to claim 8, at least one of the hinge members formed of sheet- Inetal in channel form embracin an edge portion of a cover member, and aving inturned `edge prongs entering vthe material thereof.

11. A cover according to claim 8, at least yone of the hinge members formed of sheetmetal in channel form embracing an edge portion ot a cover member, and having on its opposite edges inturned prongs entering the material thereof from opposite sides.

12, A cover for a loose-leal binder of the ring book type, comprising a back kand sides with mechanical hinges uniting them throughout substantially their length, formed' with alternated eyes on the back and sides respectively, traversed by pintles, the hinges being substantially Within the thickness o the bacll; and sides, and at least one hinge member formed ot sheet-metal in channel form with its opposite leaves embracing the cover member between them, and having separated inturned prongs entering the material of the cover member from opposite sides.

13. A cover for a lopseleaf binder of the ring book type, comprlsmg a back and sides ing separated inturned edge prongs entering from opposite sides the material of the sides and'back.

14. A coverv according to claim 12, the prongs on the opposite leaves of the hinge member being alternated so that they enter from opposite sides into dillerent portions of the material.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CLARENCE D. rRUssELL. 

